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Attorney General Formella Joins Bipartisan Letter to Biden Admin on the Hostage Designation of Tigran Gambaryan
Concord, NH - Attorney General John M. Formella joined a bipartisan group of seventeen other state attorneys general today in asking President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken to designate Tigran Gambaryan as a hostage pursuant to the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act. The attorneys general express grave concern for the life of Mr. Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen and former law enforcement leader who is being unlawfully detained by the Nigerian government.
“In light of the alarming circumstances surrounding Tigran Gambaryan’s unlawful detention in Nigeria, I stand with my fellow attorneys general in calling on the Biden Administration to designate him as a hostage. Mr. Gambaryan is a dedicated public servant who has devoted his life to upholding the law and protecting American values. His continued detention without cause is not only a violation of his rights but also poses a severe risk to his health and well-being,” said Attorney General Formella. “We must act decisively to ensure his safe return to his family before it’s too late. It is our duty to advocate for U.S. citizens abroad, and we urge the federal government to apply the necessary diplomatic pressure to secure his release.”
Mr. Gambaryan spent a long and distinguished career working in international law enforcement. As a Special Agent with the IRS, he worked to uphold American values and enforce the law. Entering the private sector, Gambaryan joined Binance, a global cryptocurrency exchange. He used his law enforcement experience in efforts to help Binance align its practices with U.S. legal standards and international security priorities. Earlier this year, Gambaryan traveled to Nigeria at the invitation of local officials to discuss strategies to better police crypto markets. Upon arrival, Gambaryan was arrested without cause, his passport was confiscated, and he was detained without formal charges. For months, Gambaryan has been held in a notoriously violent Nigerian prison. His health has deteriorated severely, and his lawyers have confirmed he is suffering from life-threatening medical conditions.
The need for action increased this morning, when the Nigerian government failed to produce Mr. Gambaryan for a long-scheduled court proceeding. According to press reports, the Nigerian government was unable or unwilling to explain Mr. Gambaryan’s whereabouts to the Nigerian judge, other than stating he was in custody.
Designation of Mr. Gambaryan as a hostage pursuant to the Levinson Act would unlock critical resources and apply diplomatic pressure, greatly increasing his chances for an immediate release—before this unlawful detention becomes a tragedy. All of the signing attorneys general are united in their desire to bring Mr. Gambaryan home to his family as soon as possible.